Flame of Plenary comes to Parramatta

By Mary Brazell, 15 December 2020
The Diocese of Parramatta delegates for the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia (L-R) Fr Wim Hoekstra, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Wendy Goonan, Fr Fernando Montano, Fr Peter Blayney, Fr Chris de Souza, Carol Teodori-Blahut and Fr Peter Williams. Absent is Fr Paul Marshall. Image: Diocese of Parramatta

 

On Thursday night, the nine delegates who have been appointed from the Diocese of Parramatta for the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia met face-to-face for the first time and received the Plenary Council flame.

Padmi Pathinather, the Chair of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, led the liturgy to commission the delegates, held at the Mary MacKillop Chapel in the Diocesan Chancery building.

During the liturgy, delegates were presented with candles that had been lit from the Plenary Council candle, serving as a sign of the Holy Spirit at the centre of their journey. Plenary delegates, while appointed from their respective dioceses are called to represent all Catholics in Australia.

The Diocese of Parramatta delegates for the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia are presented with candles lit from the Plenary Council candle. Image: Diocese of Parramatta

Padmi assured the delegates of the support they have within the Diocese and asked them to be open to what the Spirit is saying, given the role they will play in the journey towards a more hope-filled church in Australia.

“May God be present to you as the spirit of courage and right judgement, a spirit of knowledge and love as we support each other on our journey of faith,” she said.

In late March, 250 Catholics across the country were called as delegates for the Plenary Council. These delegates will represent their local church at the two Plenary Council assemblies in 2021 and 2022.

The Plenary Council delegates from the Catholic Church in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains are:

  • Fr Peter Blayney, Episcopal Vicar for Migrant Chaplaincies and Pastoral Associates and Episcopal Vicar for Canonical Matters
  • Fr Chris de Souza, Vicar General and Episcopal Vicar for Education and Formation
  • Wendy Goonan from the Parish of Baulkham Hills
  • Fr Wim Hoekstra, Episcopal Vicar for Clergy
  • Fr John Hogan, Rector of the Holy Spirit Seminary, Harris Park
  • Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta
  • Fr Fernando Montano, Episcopal Vicar for Social Welfare
  • Carol Teodori-Blahut from Our Lady of the Nativity Parish, Lawson; and
  • Fr Peter Williams, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia

The delegates will continue to participate in formation and discernment over the next year. They will also be invited to listen, discern and engage with the faithful of the Diocese throughout the Plenary process over the next two years.

Diocese of Parramatta lay delegates for the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia Carol Teodori-Blahut (second left) and Wendy Goonan (second right) pose for a photograph with their husbands Len Blahut (left) and Anthony Goonan (right). Image: Diocese of Parramatta

The first assembly of the Plenary Council in October 2021 will take place with a combination of online and face-to-face participation, as uncertainty remains over restrictions on travel and gatherings.

Delegates will gather in local groups – diocesan, inter-diocesan or provincial – and participate in some Council sessions within those groups.

Other sessions will take place with those groups engaging in conversation, prayer and discernment with other groups around Australia.

The second assembly is set to take place in Sydney in July 2022.

Watch the livestreamed liturgy here.

View images from the Commissioning of the Plenary Council Delegates here or below:

Diocesan Plenary Council Delegates Commissioning (72 of 88)

 

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